Collapsible press mold



Nov. 15, 1938. i MiLANl 2,136,517

COLLAPSIBLE PRESS MOLD Original Filed April 11, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I nventm' Attorneys Nov. 15, 1938. J, L, MILAN. 2,136,517

COLLQPSIBLE PRESS MOLD Original Filed April 11, 1935 2 Sheet sSheet 2 In 0 e n to! A t! ome W A Patented Nov. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Joseph L. Milani, Seattle, Wash.

Application April 11, 1936, Serial No. 73,958 Renewed June 13, 1938 2 Claims. (01. -57) This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in presses such as are required in molding meats and other foodstuffs in diiferent forms for packing or shipping.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible press mold in which meat and other material can be pressed into the desired form and subsequently removed by collapsing the mold without damage to the formed substance.

During the course of the following specification other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents the press mold.

Figure 2 represents a sectional view taken substantially on line 2--2 of Figure 1 with parts broken away.

' Figure 3 represents a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 represents a perspective view of one of the corner angles.

Figure 6 represents a fragmentary perspective view of the bridge strip.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen in the drawings that numeral 5 generally refers to the container of the press which is of substantially square shape in horizontal section. The container is divided into a pair of sections each consisting of a pair of side walls a-b at right angles to each other. In the corners of these sections are the vertically movable angle strips 6 which are provided with webs 1 at their lower ends over which the tapered ends of the bridge strip 9 engage to prevent rising of these strips. This bridge strip 9 normally rests upon the lower portion In of the sections of the container 5 and upon the webs l which are countersunk in the bottom portions l0. As is clearly shown in Figure 1 as well as in Figure 2, the side walls aa are provided with risers H at their upper edges and each is provided with an inwardly disposed slot l2 defining a pocket for the reception of a corresponding end of the cross member l3 which is provided with the 'hub construction l4 internally threaded and through which the screw I 5 is feedable.

Numeral I6 represents the follower plate for snug sliding disposition in the container 5, the lower end of the screw I5 being swivelly con nected as at I! to the top side of this follower plate IS. The upper end of the screw I5 is proa side elevational view of vided with a cross bar [8 which can be engaged by the hands of the operator.

The sections of the container where they meet at one corner of the container are provided on one wall-a with swingable eye bolts l9 which can be swung into bifurcated lugs 20 on the opposed side wall b and wing nuts 2| on these bolts I 9 can be jammed against the lugs 20 so that the sections at this corner are held together, while at the diametrically opposite corner of the container the free edges are held together by the provision of apertured ears 22-23 in interlapping relation and a hinge bar 24 disposed vertically through these apertured ears.

When desired, the follower I6 is lifted to a point adjacent the cross member l3 and the substance to be packed is placed in the container. Subsequently, the hand bar I8 is rotated to feed the screw I5 downwardly and the follower l6 will compress the material in the container.

When the molded material is to be removed,- the wings nuts 2| are loosened and as the sections are separated, the cross member I 3 and the follower I6 can be removed, the angle member 6 being free to be lifted with the loaf or pressed block of meat. Furthermore, a suitable implement can be placed under the bridge strip 9 while the meat loaf is being lifted so that the bridge strip serves as a readily removable support for the loaf to prevent the loaf from breaking while being removed from the mold. Subsequently, the molded material can be lifted from the container.

It can be seen that in order to remove the pressed product, the screw I5 is first unscrewed so as to relieve pressure from the follower l6 after which the bar I3 can be removed from the hooked formation.

Of course, in order to remove the follower l6 conveniently, the follower must be brought clear up above the upper ends of the walls of the sections, so that as the bar l3 and the screw are displaced laterally, the follower can move conveniently along with the same. Of course, the mold must now be opened in order to extract the pressed matter and this is accomplished by unscrewing the wing nuts 2| and swinging the eyebolts, l9 away from the keepers 20, so that the sections of the mold can be swung apart on the hinge structures 22-23. The pressed material can now be engaged on its bottom preferably against the member 9 and lifted upwardly and as the block of material is lifted upwardly the corner members 6 will slide upwardly with the block of material and fall away when they have been lifted above the upper ends of the sections.

Thus the corner portions of the product are protected when the same is extracted from the mold.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A press of the character "described comprising a container, said container being divided into a pair of vertically extending complementary sections, means for separably connecting the sections together, a follower vertically operable in the container, means for operating the follower,' members in the and vertically slidable corner sections of the container against which material is pressed and protecting the corners of the "container. and a movable pressed bulk while it is being removed from the container, the corners of said sections being channeled to receive the corner members.

2. A press of the character described comprising a container, said container being divided into a pair of vertically extending complementary sections, means for separably connecting the sections together, a follower vertically operable in the container, means for operating the follower, and vertically slidable corner members in the sections of the containeragainst which material vis pressed and protecting the corners of the being removed from the bridge piece crossing and being engaged pressed bulk while it is the bottom of the container at its ends with the lower ends of the slidable corner members.

JOSEPH L. MILANI. 

